"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It's the basis of why Ear Worthy publishes opinion editorials (OP-ED) by third parties. We are enthusiastic supporters of the mission of Understood.org.
Ann M. Bennett, PhD, is Understood’s director of applied research and evaluation and a leader in impact measurement and program effectiveness. With more than 20 years of experience across academic and nonprofit settings, she specializes in program evaluation, research methodologies, data analytics, cultural studies, and anti-deficit frameworks.
At Understood, Bennett designs and leads the organization’s applied research and evaluation roadmap, shaping strategies and measurement frameworks that ensure offerings are both evidence-based and effective.
She works across Understood’s portfolio — including ADHD Aha!, MissUnderstood, Through My Eyes, and ADHD Unstuck — to advance measurable impact for children and adults with learning and thinking differences, as well as for the parents and educators who support them.***************************************************
How podcasts support women with ADHD when traditional care falls short
By Ann Bennett, PhD, Associate Director of Applied Research and Evaluation at Understood.org
What if one of health care’s most accessible tools for improving patient understanding and engagement wasn’t found in a clinic — but in a podcast?
Effective care isn’t just about the right diagnosis or treatment plan. It’s about helping people feel seen, understood, and supported. But in today’s fast-paced, fragmented health care system, that kind of connection between patients and their providers can be hard to establish and sustain.
This challenge is particularly acute for women. For decades, women’s symptoms have too often been dismissed as “psychosomatic” or “emotional.” Conditions from heart disease to autoimmune disorders to mental health issues show significantly delayed diagnoses in women. The cumulative effect is that women spend years searching for validation before they ever receive appropriate care.
The same is true for women with ADHD. Women and girls are still less likely than men and boys to be diagnosed, despite experiencing similar or greater functional impairments. Research shows that boys are diagnosed with ADHD about twice as often as girls. ADHD symptoms for girls tend to be less disruptive and more internalized — characterized by inattention, emotional dysregulation, and perfectionism. That makes it easier for schools and clinics to miss the signs.
After years of struggling in school, work, and relationships, one of Understood.org’s podcast listeners said that her doctor dismissed her concerns around ADHD, saying that she had “too high expectations” of herself. Another listener said that after having an ADHD diagnosis denied several times, she “developed anxiety and depression” from having to mask her symptoms while being unable to identify their source.
Having been overlooked by traditional systems, many women are now seeking understanding elsewhere. Many have turned to social media and online forums to find community and validation. In fact, women make up 62% of those discussing ADHD online. And more and more women are tuning in to podcasts.
Understood.org has heard from thousands of women who turn to podcasts to better understand their ADHD and themselves. In our recent 2025 study, “Women With ADHD: The Power of Podcasts,” we surveyed more than 400 women who listen to “ADHD Aha!” and “MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel.” The findings show that podcasts can do more than entertain. They can educate, empower, and shift how people relate to their own diagnosis. In fact, almost three out of four listeners (72%) said they trust podcasts to provide them with accurate health information — more than mainstream media (56%) and social media (47%). And, 85% said that listening to Understood.org’s podcasts made them feel more confident to navigate future challenges they may face because of their ADHD.
Podcasts succeed not by replacing clinical guidance, but by complementing it. When thoughtfully designed — combining expert-backed guidance with human storytelling — they can act as a supplemental intervention. They deliver what patients often crave but rarely receive consistently: empathy, validation, and community. For women with ADHD, a group historically overlooked, underdiagnosed, and misdiagnosed, this kind of connection can be transformative. As one listener stated after listening to a “MissUnderstood” episode, she felt “seen and less like a broken object.”
The experiences of our listeners illustrate how podcasts can fill gaps left by traditional care, dismantling stigma and helping listeners recognize patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. As scalable, low-cost touchpoints, they reach people who might not seek help on their own.
Podcasts aren’t therapy, but they can serve as evidence-informed empathy at scale to help listeners thrive. Women and their health care providers can work together to explore validated, expert-backed sources of information and support — including podcasts — as part of a broader approach to understanding and managing ADHD. By combining clinical guidance with tools that build trust, resonance, and continuity, women can access the support they’ve long been missing. They deserve that.
**************************************************
Understood.org is a national nonprofit that provides free, expert-vetted resources, tools, and community support for the 70 million Americans with learning and thinking differences like dyslexia and ADHD, helping them thrive at school, work, and in life by offering information, personalized support, and advocacy tools for parents, children, and adults.
Dr. Ann Bennett began her career in education as a secondary educator and then as an
assistant professor of educational research. Her work has been published
in academic journals, edited volumes, and conference proceedings.
Following her career in education, she joined Harlem Children’s Zone as
the director of program evaluation, focusing on innovating processes and
methods in the area of evaluation and data analytics.
She identifies as disabled, autistic, and a person with learning and thinking differences. She earned an MS and a PhD in education from the University of Tennessee.
Check out the Best Independent Podcasts of 2026
For more podcast reporting, check out Ear Worthy on Forbes magazine.
Frank Racioppi’s Books (fiction & nonfiction) can be found here.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank You for your input and feedback. If you requested a response, we will do so as soon as possible.